Leaving the start chute is always a rush. Leading up to that moment is always nerve wracking, well for me at least. But I hazard a guess I am not alone in the knotted stomach and slightly nagging little voice that keeps asking “did you remember everything? Are you ready?” We got to Willow early and were fairly well organized. I had double checked the sled and gear the night before. The dogs had eaten well that morning, and I had all the harnesses. Friends were there to provide me with coffee and support. (THANK YOU!!!) But I was still nervous.
Was amazed that Sue Crawford managed to catch me looking so relaxed in this photo, taken in the staging area before the start.
Greeting crowds on the trail. Thanks Diane Hirshberg for this photo.
The nice thing about being an early bib, you get to get the start over with quickly. Continue reading →
Signing into Nome, the final checkpoint. The adventure is officially over. Photo taken by Sebastian Schnuelle
Be warned, my body may be back in Fairbanks, but my heart is still on the trail. They warn you at the rookie meeting about how the Iditarod will change you, how nervous you will be, how tough the trail can be, and how you will be tested. But what you don’t always hear about is how hard it is to go back to life as it was after the race. Post race it is hard for me to focus on the little details of daily life, like; email, laundry, shopping, and keeping up on the blog. Other post race syndrome symptoms include: very strange sleep cycles – at first I could not sleep for more the 2-4 hours without waking up and wondering where I was, strange eating habits – actually starting to wonder exactly how long I can use “recovery eating” as a justification for eating anything I want, and chronic soreness – location will depend on what body parts got beat up the worst so it differs for each musher, I have sore hands and a shoulder with limited mobility. But today I sit focused and ready to start sharing my Iditarod Impressions with y’all. This will be the first of a few posts where I will try and share some of my thoughts about the amazing adventure we had this year.
Well first off there are so many people to thank!
Sporting the Malibu Special Education Foundation banner at the Ceremonial start. Photo by Laureen Sills.
Usibelli, Halliburton, TJ’s Landclearing, were all returning team members this year. Like Dew Claw, they are all invested in Alaska with a commitment to long term success. We are honored to be working with such great sponsors. This year we also added a new major sponsor, the Malibu Special Education Foundation. Working with them really got me thinking about the nature of challenge, and how we all face them in life. (you can read my blog post on the topic) In the future I hope I can continue to get people thinking and talking about ways we can all work to support one another in the challenges we face.
And then there are the wonderful members of Team Dew Claw; friends, family & supporters. Along with financial support, they supply encouragement and enthusiasm, and we are grateful to have such a great support team. There was Marlys Sauer and her sister Dawn Beckwell who made the trip to Alaska. At the start they were part of our crew of handlers, Dawn was a first rate ‘body-guard’ keeping people from interrupting me as I was trying to focus and get my sled packed for the start. (Cause if I am being honest I was fairly nervous, and trying to stay focused in big crowds of people all wanting to talk with you is harder than you might think)
With Marlys (aka Iditabug) at the finish in Nome
They were also there in Nome and helped take care of me after the race. (Dan opted to fly home early with the dogs, a situation that had me missing him. But that was ultimately better for the dogs; getting them home where they can be more comfortable in their own yard sooner) Then there is Kirstie McGuinness who sent me a huge care package of goodies for my drop bags, along with a box of gallon freezer bags that had inspirational quotes written on them. I used them to pack up my human food for the checkpoints. Kirstie’s yummy trail snacks that were a huge hit, Lance Mackey even commented how good my human food was at the finish banquet. Mike Pickell also sent some excellent homemade candy and Jivonne Alley sent up fudge, so my sweet tooth and sugar rush needs were well covered. And then of course I had the chocolate covered bacon Dan had made me! I got the best reactions when I pulled that out of the snack bag to munch on. It seems people were either intrigued or revolted. But for the record, it is AWESOME! Orren & Judy Brownson donated the dog food cooker I used for the race, it is a special model from Cold Spot Feeds, and it worked perfectly. Pendra King became a friend when she sponsored my on my rookie run last year, and she continues to encourage me; her own personal commitment to fitness and health is inspiring. The list is long, and each team member has our gratitude: MUSH THANKS
Lead Dogs
Swing Dogs
Team Dogs
Puppies
Marlys Sauer
Nancy Bailey
Virginia Pond
Pendra King
Mike Pickell
Daniel Faltyn
Lou & Fran Varndell
Kirstie McGuinness
Mushaholics
Myron Kaduce
Sandra Wildfeuer
Janet & Walt Tremer
Susi Marsh
Orren & Judy Brownson
John & Karen Meeks
Teresa & Jamie Hollingsworth
Sally Dunkley
Dawn Beckwell
SueAnn Henry
Sandi, Dave, Tori & Logan
Cynthia Lawrence Calkins & family
Stephen & Dorleen Switzer
Mike Farmer
An Anonymous Bug
Mary L Brashler
Gail Lieurance
Jivonne Alley
Iditarod madness actually starts the week before, as teams arrive in Anchorage for various meetings and mandatory events. For us it started with EKG’s and Blood Work for all the dogs. The results are very important in helping us ensure our team is in optimal health. I wrote a bit about it in our earlier blog on ‘Who to Choose?’. Then the next day all the dogs have a complete Veterinarian exam. There are some good photos of our team and others at the vet check on the Backstage Iditarod website.
Organizing gear in the hanger. Disclaimer, I do not really have demon eyes, even when frantically getting prepared to race.
While in the Anchorage area we had a wonderful apartment attached to an airplane hangar. So not only did we have a comfortable place to stay before the race, there was also plenty of room to bring the sled and all my gear into the hanger and work on it in a warm, snow free place. All of this was thanks to Theresa and John Daily. Theresa had even shopped and stocked the apartment with thoughtful goodies; coffee, half & half, fresh fruit, nice cheese and crackers, and of course fancy chocolate. I could not think of a better, more comfortable place to stay while waiting for the race to start.
Nearby trails allowed us to take the race dogs on a few fun runs before the race. This helps keep them limbered up, and also gave me the opportunity to really look hard at the dogs I brought with me to Anchorage. Which was important because I was still making some of the hard final choices about which of the 20 dogs who traveled to Anchorage with us would ultimately make the team of 16 that would travel to Nome. One choice in particular was a hard one for me. I have a leader I am especially close to. Loben. She ran in lead for me in every race I ran in 2011, and has always been my ‘go to girl’ when things get tough. I even choose to highlight her in a ‘meet the dogs’ segment the Anchorage Daily News was running. But on our short runs I could tell her shoulder was tight, and she was not moving as smoothly as she usually does. Sadly, but wisely, I choose not to take her with me on the race. A small soreness can easily get worse, and I was not willing to risk it with her. Of course having to leave Loben behind was a lot like going to kindergarten and not being able to bring your blankey, I was sincerely worried about having to race without my ‘go to girl’. *flash forward: Loben’s niece Orchid really stepped up to fill the gap Loben left in my team. Whether it be leading a train of teams out of Shaktoolik, or charging into Nome from Safety with one of the fastest run times for that section of trail; little Orchid made me proud. Orchid has her aunt Loben’s sweet dark eyes, hard driving nature, and great trail sense.
Staying positive before the race. Thanks to Laureen Sills for the photo.
The last day of mandatory activities is Thursday, when mushers spend all day in the mushers meeting and then later there is the start banquet. At the mushers meeting we hear trail reports, go over race procedures, get to speak with head vet Stu Nelson, and then during lunch meet our Iditarider. I was lucky, I already knew mine. Good friends Walt & Janet Tremer had bid on, and won, my sled for the ceremonial start. In the past Janet had ridden with Lance Mackey and Newton Marshall. She had always tried to get Walt to take a ride. And this was his year, I would be giving Walt the ride through Anchorage. So when we got to meet up with our Iditarider for the pizza lunch we got to skip all the “getting to know you” questions and just spent the time gossiping, giggling, and talking about a eclectic variety of topics (from space travel to summer plans) I did have to admit to them that I was a bit nervous about crashing Walt in the sled. But Janet put my fears to rest by letting me know there was a $50 in it for me if I did Walt would later counter with a $50 of I didn’t crash. And Dan suggested I try to get Walt to tell Janet we crashed, twice (even though we didn’t) and try to cash in.
The start banquet is where mushers all get to draw their number for the start order. It is also a totally social occasion where mushers, volunteers, and event fans all get to come together and relax a bit before the race begins. We got let out of the mushers meeting with time for me, Kelley Griffin, and Michelle Phillips to rush to the Salvation Army for one of our favorite banquet activities. The finding and wearing of formal evening dresses! Nicknamed ‘the Distance Divas’ we have shown up to start and finish banquets sporting some seriously glamorous attire. Let’s face it, we are on the trail wearing the same stinky clothes, no shower, total mass of hat hair for days on end. Banquets are our chance to clean up and be girly. I am very thankful to have the Divas in my life. Hard to explain to people outside of the sport what my life is really like. But Kelley and Michelle get it. They have always been there for me, through nerves, rookie races, bad weather, you name it. OK so shopping in thrift stores while chatting about doggie diarrhea treatments and which boots really keep you warm at -40F may be the closest my life will ever come to a “Sex in the City” female bonding experience. I am cool with that.
See adventure traveler and writer Payge McMahon photos of the Iditarod (including the Divas dressed for the banquet) on her facebook album.
At the ceremonial start with Dan on the tag sled and Iditarider Walt. Photo by Theresa Daily.
At the ceremonial start I was strangely calm. Maybe it was knowing my good friend Walt was my Iditarider. Or knowing that Dan would be on the tag sled right behind me. And then there is the fact that times on this first run do not count. The ceremonial start is more of a parade for the many wonderful fans who line the streets, giving them a chance to see all the teams, and celebrating the dogs and the race. It was a beautiful day, with snow falling and warmer temps, making for beautiful winter photos and comfortable spectators. We had a lot of fun going around the course, which ends at Campbell Airstrip. Fans along the route cheering for you make you feel like a rock star! And we had given Walt a bag of used booties stuffed with candy (to give them heft for throwing) to toss out to the crowd. Along the way there are unofficial ‘stops’ where fans are passing out water, or snacks. One stop in particular was special for me, the muffin man stop. My dear friend and handler Sarah had got me started and then raced over there to watch me come by. And had arranged for the group to sing pirate music to me as we went buy (in honor of my infatuation with Captain Jack Sparrow). That brought a huge smile to my face!
Well y’all this is the end of the ceremonial start, and my attention span, so it is a perfect time to wrap up this blog. But fear not; I will be sitting down in the near future to write up some stories from the trail, and talk about the amazing dogs who traveled with me.
Coming into Campbell airstrip at the end of the ceremonial start. Thanks to Karen Laubenstein for the photo.
Preparing for the ceremonial start with volunteer handler Vivian Coleman. Thanks to Sue Crawford for the photo.
Introducing the dogs to new friends before the start. Orchid is in harness giving me kisses.
Saluting the pirate chorus, thanks to Diane Hirshberg for the photo.
Thanks to Walt & Janet Tremer for the photo: taken on the trail outside of Nome, Iditarod 2011
But while I am am gone here are a few places you can follow the Iditarod online:
http://iditarod.com/
The official Iditarod website. Here is the Race News Center for the 2012 Iditarod. They also have a subscription service to the Iditarod Insider, for a fee you get exclusive coverage. The Iditarod Trail Committee is also on facebook.
Iditablog - News & Commentary from the trail. They have done a great job the last few years of providing fans with insight and updates.
KNOM on the Trail – Nome radio, they do race coverage from the trail.
KTUU Anchorage – This Anchorage TV News will have a special section on the web for Iditarod. Check out the website for Iditarod coverage from their reporters. They even flew to Fairbanks and did a nice profile on our kennel.
Anchorage Daily News – will also have reporters on the trail, and does a very good
Who will be joining me on the trail to Nome. Thank you to Theresa Daily (c) for photo of my 2011 Iditarod run into Nome.
Life is the sum of all your choices. ~Albert Camus
Well said Camus, well said. And while I am on the topic of my favorite Camus quotes, he is also the author of this gem, “In the depth of winter, I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.”
But Camus is not really the hot topic at hand, Choice is the topic. And the big choice to be made is which 16 will make the team and travel with me to Nome. The process is in its final stage, but has been ongoing all winter. Fellow long distance musher Zack Steer wrote a great piece explaining the strategic thought process that goes into choosing your race team for Iditarod: How do mushers decide which 16 dogs make the cut?
Today I was at the Iditarod headquarters working with the awesome Vet Techs who do the blood draws and EKG’s. I elected to bring 20 race dogs to Anchorage, so although technically I could have had more tested, but I am focusing on this group of 20, that being the number allowed for the final vet check. The EKG’s and blood work is an important tool in helping mushers make informed decisions about the health of the athletes in their team. This service is donated by Providence Hospital in Anchorage, and I am very grateful for it. The results can confirm the health of your team, but they can also alert you to possible problems that are not obviously apparent.
Tomorrow is the thorough Vet Check with the Iditarod Vets. Here is our chance to get additional professional insight and advise. All of this allows us to make the best informed choices we can.
Of course ultimately the choice is one we will have to make. Dan and I have trained these dogs, and know them better the anyone. But it is not a choice that will be made lightly. I am already agonizing over it…
So although I am not yet ready to put out a list of the final 16, I can share with you the names and some tidbits about the 20 who traveled to Anchorage with Dan and I, and are all in serious consideration for the race team: * indicated veteran of the Yukon Quest or Iditarod
Loben* – a sweet little female leader. She was on my team for the Copper Basin, Yukon Quest, Iditarod, and Yukon Flats races in 2011. I am pretty emotionally attached to this little girl.
Skittle* – another female lead dog, with a great attitude and sweet personality.
Dust* – a super swing dog, nicknamed ‘Dust in the wind’, she is full of spunk.
Orchid* – has kind eyes, and a tail that never stops wagging. She is a young leader and Loben is her aunt.
Pledge* – hard working female team dog, with the most adorable ears that fold up in a odd angular way giving her the appearance of the Flying Nun (except Pledge is a black dog).
Sparrow – a young female who had her race debut on my Tustumena 200 team. And really rose to the occasion, even taking a turn in lead.
Grumpy – who really isn’t. Another young female who is really turning into a speed demon leader, she loves to run with Orchid.
CC* - is a spit fire, she is a killer wheel dog. She is also the sweetest looking little girl, but don’t let that fool you, she is tough as nails.
Ribdon* – Sparrows brother. He has become one of the most promising young leaders we have in the team.
Purge* – known for his ‘smile‘ a lovely toothy grin he flashes when he thinks we are running or feeding. Also a solid leader.
Windex* – voted most likely to give you a fat lip (for bouncing up into your face to get attention) , he is a bundle of energy with beautiful blue eyes.
Freezer* – one of the most solid swing dogs we have.
Vickers* – a big powerful male, with a heart of gold.
Elias* – big and sweet, and the kind of dog who never quits.
Ahtna* – very calm and reliable.
Lubbock* – a big goofball, with energy to spare, who loves to give kisses. But he is also a bit shy around crowds, so he will get spared the huge crowds in Anchorage. (Remember you only run 12 of the 20 you vet check on Sat at the ceremonial start, and then pick your 16 for the real start on Sunday. So he can skip the crowds and still run the race.)
I have been thinking a lot about challenges lately. Which is not overly surprising, since I am gearing up for a big one. But thanks to some interesting online interactions I find myself thinking about it in a way that is much bigger then just me and my upcoming adventure. I have been contemplating what it takes to rise to a challenge, not just having what it takes, but giving it as well.
I must admit as I started to think about this topic, it was selfishly focused on how it related to me. And I was being very thankful for the wonderful Opportunity, Support & Encouragement I receive from a great group of people who Accept me for who I am and Respect my choices. Sometimes it amazes me I have friends, considering the number of times I have actually told friends “sorry I cannot come to your… wedding… birthday… baby shower… I have a training run planned” They know me and love me anyway And for that I love them dearly. I am truly lucky to have the Opportunity to live this dog centered life, and Team Dew Claw, your Support and Encouragement means the world to me.
But then there were 2 interesting online interactions really got me thinking. I would like to share them with you in the hopes you will join me in being thankful for the (Acceptance & Respect) + (Opportunity, Support & Encouragement) you receive. As well as consider ways you can make sure you are returning the gift. First I was contacted by a representative of The Malibu Special Education Foundation, asking about Iditarod events. And in one of those cosmic twists of fate a plan was born. I am now very excited to be meeting with a representative from The Malibu Special Education Foundation at the start of the 2012 Iditarod. I am honored to be involved in helping them spread awareness about special needs education. They have a fantastic approach that involves Supporting teachers through training and equipment. Providing Opportunity for disabled students; like doing theater projects with typically developed peers, an experience that must be equally valuable for both groups. And a after school program of outings that result in weekly podcasts produced by students. Encouraging inclusion and understand through programs for families and communities. I even love the language choice they use “typical peers” is much more preferable to “normal students”. They are all students, lets also acknowledge that are peers, inclusion is one of the best ways we show anyone Acceptance & Respect. Plus what is “normal”? We say it as if it were perfect and admirable. But as far as I can tell “normal” is a cycle on the washing machine! Not a term to describe me, or any of the wonderful people I know.
Join The Malibu Special Education Foundation in celebrating the potential that is within us all. To learn how you can help, contact them. Find creative ways to support inclusion for people with disabilities, and encourage community involvement. Now is a prefect time to get involved.
And to any of you who are feeling the fear of failure (because that is a real risk when you try new challenges) let me share this with you.
Next I also had the opportunity to help a good friend and Special Education teacher in a Lego drive for her classroom. It was a simple request, made on Facebook. But I am pleased to say it got a great response. She and I spent some time discussing the challenges her students face. And how something as simple as Legos helped engage students in so many ways. It is a small thing to someone with grown kids to clean their closet and donate to a special education classroom, but it means much more to the students who will benefit from it. *If you would like to donate Legos or Art Supplies (because I really believe art is a wonderful way non-verbal students can express themselves) feel free to send them to: Heidi Sutter, Glennallen School. PO Box 108. Glennallen AK 99588. Don’t let the cost of postage to Alaska stop you from getting involved, contact your local school’s special education teacher. You can make a difference.
At the finish in Nome, Iditarod 2011. Photo (c) Theresa Daily
I am well aware the Iditarod is a major challenge, one that will test me; I will be cold, tired, sore, scared, and pushed. But then again, I asked for it! I knew all this when I signed up! This is a voluntary challenge. One with a known end point. If I make it to Nome there will be cheering crowds, celebration, and once my dogs are well fed, massaged and cared for I get to eat everything in sight and pass out for hours. When I awake my challenge is accomplished. For people living with physical and mental disabilities life is a challenge, a mandatory one, that they wake up and face every day of their lives. And although there are many victories and successes they are rarely accompanied by cheering crowds and the knowledge that the challenge is over and done. As I started to think more about this I realized that what we all need the same things to face life’s challenges. (Acceptance & Respect) + (Opportunity, Support & Encouragement)
It is clear to me that we all have a role and responsibility to help each other face challenge and reach our full potential. Everyone faces life’s challenges, our friends, family, loved ones, and neighbors. An individuals challenge may be apparent, but not always. For instance, I do not usually brag, but I am a person living with Dyslexia. At a young age my mother commented on my early math homework, “well at least you didn’t write your 0′s backwards” As an adult I have taken creative spelling to new heights, and I am fairly sure that without spell check I would be one of a handful of people who could actually read and understand this blog. I am willing to guess that many people who know me had no idea, but it is a part of who I am, and something I have learned to cope with. Again thanks to (Acceptance & Respect) + (Opportunity, Support & Encouragement)
Teachers and the wonderful folks working at The Malibu Special Education Foundation are aware of the impact others can have on the people living with disabilities, both positive and negative. And as I talk with them and ponder the nature of challenge; how we can rise to meet it, or be overwhelmed by it I agree. No one who ever accomplished anything great did it alone. But many people who were to afraid to try feel alone.
That my friend is the story of how I came up with my equation for what people need to face a challenge: all together now ladies and gentlemen~ (Acceptance & Respect) + (Opportunity, Support & Encouragement)
How does this all come together? let me give you a real life example in the form of a visually challenged lead dog named Chess. Chess was bred and trained by Ramy Brooks, and as he grew he developed a condition called pannus, effecting his eyesight. This would be a deal breaker in many racing kennels. But Ramy recognized in this dog a great desire to run, and a wonderful athletic ability. He accepted this dogs condition, limitations and all, while also respecting this dogs ability. Chess was given the opportunity to train with his teammates. Positive reinforcement for his preformance provided encouragement. For support he got training in sled dog commands as well as medical treatment to minimize the damage caused by pannus. The end result… Chess is a lead dog. He was actually a leader on my team in the 2011 Yukon Quest and Iditarod. Often times we do not know the greatness a person (or in this case a dog) is really capable of until we give them the chance to show us. Click here to see Chess today
Most people think of mushing as a solitary activity, and in a sense they are right.
On the trail with the team
Hours on the trail without other people or signs of civilization; save the occasional trail marker or the tracks of another sled. You get to experience Mother Nature at her finest & her most foul moods. ( I was recently interviewed along with fellow mushers Jeff King and Brent Sass about just that for a article in the Alaska Dispatch on the Science of Dog Mushing in Alaska) You see places few people travel, and do so at a speed that gives you the opportunity to take it all in.
But from my perspective, I am never alone. First and foremost there is the team in front of me. I would not, could not, have the honor of doing what I do without them. I love them dearly and they are the worlds finest traveling companions. But also equally important is the team behind me. The many wonderful sponsors that make up Team Dew Claw. I wanted to take a break from Iditarod preparations today to give a huge shout out to some new and returning Team Dew Claw members. Having this wonderful team behind me makes it possible for me and the kids to participate in Iditarod and other events. And with the support of an awesome team, you are never alone.
So join me in thanking and welcoming: Teresa & Jamie Hollingsworth, Cynthia Lawrence Calkins & family, Mary L Brashler, & Gail Lieurance. Also Mush Thanks to renewed support and encouragement from: Marlys Sauer and Pendra King. Of course we want to thank our families: Nancy Bailey & Forest Miller, Virginia Pond, and Margaret Thornton. While talking to my mom on the phone the other day she said it best, “you know we are with you every step of the way”
Want to join the team? Learn more at: http://www.dewclawkennel.com/
Walt would later counter with a $50 of I didn’t crash. And Dan suggested I try to get Walt to tell Janet we crashed, twice (even though we didn’t) and try to cash in.
And for that I love them dearly. I am truly lucky to have the Opportunity to live this dog centered life, and 
